Sanae BEKKAR – My Blog –

Having worked for many years as a technical lead specializing in Oracle Fusion Middleware, I’ve been deeply involved in the design, development, and runtime operations of enterprise integration architectures using Oracle SOA Suite and related technologies.

With that perspective, I’m excited to walk you through what’s new in the latest release  Oracle Fusion Middleware 14.1.2 and particularly the enhancements in Oracle SOA Suite 14.1.2.

Whether you’re maintaining large-scale on-prem environments or preparing for a hybrid or cloud transition, this update brings several features worth your attention.

Let’s get started !

Oracle Fusion Middleware 14.1.2 was officially released on December 20, 2024, and comes as a comprehensive bundle of Oracle’s most used middleware components. This includes:

• WebLogic Server
• Coherence
• SOA Suite and BPM Suite
• Oracle JDeveloper and ADF (Application Development Framework)
• Forms and Reports
• Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)
• Enterprise Data Quality

Oracle Identity Management and the newly branded Oracle Analytics Server (formerly OBIEE) will join the suite with additional enhancements.

As part of Oracle’s continuous delivery strategy, quarterly update patches for SOA Suite bring valuable enhancements. These updates, while sometimes small, are often critical for large-scale deployments where manageability, observability, and secure operations are key.

Let’s take a look at some notable additions in SOA Suite 14.1.2.

Key Update: JDK 17 and JDK 21 Certification

All Fusion Middleware 14.1.2 products are now certified with Java JDK 17 and 21.

Enterprises can choose their preferred runtime environment with full support for both, offering greater flexibility and future readiness.

Additionally, WebLogic Server 14.1.2 supports Jakarta EE 8, aligning Oracle’s middleware stack with modern Java EE standards.

SOA Suite: Integration Patterns for Modern Enterprises

Oracle SOA Suite remains a powerful engine for building flexible, scalable integrations. With 14.1.2, the suite continues to support a wide range of integration styles:

• Near-real-time Integration , such as synchronizing order data from CRM systems like Salesforce or Siebel to ERP systems.
• Scheduled Data Sync , running batch processes that sync daily changes to a target system.
• Publish/Subscribe Event Models , where multiple systems respond to a single published event.

Whether your integration needs are simple or complex, SOA Suite offers the components to build them effectively.

Component Highlights

SOA Suite 14.1.2 introduces improvements across its core components:

1. Adapters (Connectivity Layer)

Simplified connectivity to applications, databases, and B2B partners using reusable, pre-configured adapters.

2. Service Bus (Mediation Layer)

Handles transformation, routing, and protocol switching in a stateless and lightweight manner. Ideal for high-throughput integrations.

3. BPEL Process Manager

Provides orchestration with state management ideal for long-running workflows, such as telecom provisioning or order fulfillment.

4. Business Rules Engine

Enables externalization of business logic for dynamic decision-making based on configurable rules.

5. Business Activity Monitoring (BAM)

Presents integration metrics and KPIs in a business-user-friendly dashboard, helping stakeholders track operational efficiency.

6. Managed File Transfer (MFT)

A new 14.1.2 version of MFT has also been released, aligning it with the rest of the SOA stack for secure and auditable file exchanges.

Support Timeline & Lifecycle Policy

For those managing long-term support planning, Oracle recommends reviewing the official Lifetime Support Policy for up-to-date timelines, including:

• Premier Support end dates
• Error Correction windows
• Extended Support options

This ensures you’re aligned with Oracle’s official policies and helps avoid surprises in your upgrade roadmap.

SOA Support Timeline: What You Need to Know

Oracle continues to offer long-term support for both SOA 12.2.1.4 and SOA Suite 14.1.2, but it’s important to know where each stands:

– SOA 12.2.1.4

• Premier Support until December 2026
• Extended Support available until December 2027
• After that, it enters Lifetime Sustaining Support:
  • No new patches
  • Support only provides existing patches if available
  • No updates for compatibility with newer platforms or technologies

– SOA 14.1.2

• Covered under Oracle’s 5+3 support model:
  • 5 years Premier Support
  • 3 years Extended Support
  • Transitions to Sustaining Support after that

For the latest official timelines, always consult Oracle’s Lifetime Support Policy.

[New] Native Apache Kafka Adapter

One of the most requested features has arrived: a native Apache Kafka adapter, built specifically for enterprises using Kafka as a central messaging backbone.

Key Capabilities:

• Native integration with Apache Kafka topics
• Supports reading from and writing to Kafka in orchestrations
• Full support for:
  • Consumer groups for load-balanced consumption
  • Custom Kafka headers
  • Multiple security policies (SASL, SSL, mutual TLS)
  • Payload formats: JSON, XML, and Avro

This adapter eliminates the need for custom connectors, simplifying Kafka-based integrations across real-time use cases.

Hybrid Integration & SOA–OIC Interoperability

As many organizations continue their journey from on-premises to the cloud, hybrid integration is essential. Oracle has responded with powerful enhancements to improve SOA and OIC interoperability.

What You Can Now Do:

• From SOA Suite (on-prem or OCI), you can:
  • Create connections to OIC instances directly in JDeveloper
  • Introspect and invoke OIC integrations from SOA composites
• From OIC, you can:
  • Use the SOA Adapter to introspect and call SOA composites
  • Connect to SOA instances running on-premises or in OCI (with proper network setup)

Extra features:

• OpenAPI support: Easily convert API specs into REST bindings
• Format transformations: Convert between JSON and XML on the fly
• Securely invoke protected resources across environments

These improvements greatly simplify hybrid architectures and reduce the barrier between legacy systems and cloud-native services.

Customer-Driven Enhancements

Another practical improvements, include:

• Support for multi-part form data in REST bindings
  This is especially useful for integrations involving file uploads or multi-payload REST calls.
• Auto-purge job history visibility in the EM console
  , it’s a vital enhancement that helps admins track and troubleshoot large-scale purging operations..

Containers & DevOps: Evolving Deployment Strategies

Oracle now releases containers for SOA Suite with every quarterly patch, making it easier than ever to integrate with CI/CD pipelines and modernize development environments.

Recommendations:

• Use SOA containers in lower environments (Dev/Test) to speed up provisioning.
• Deploy on Docker or Kubernetes for agile testing and lifecycle management.
• Every container release includes the latest patch bundle, making it a great foundation for automated test cycles.

This approach aligns with Oracle’s cloud-native roadmap, even for on-premises SOA deployments.

WebLogic Server 14.1.2: Two major changes to know

Under the hood, SOA Suite runs on WebLogic, and the 14.1.2 release brings significant updates at the platform level. Two major features deserve special attention:

1. WebLogic Remote Console

The traditional WebLogic console is no longer bundled in 14.1.2. Instead, users must now use the WebLogic Remote Console, which offers:

• A standalone desktop app to manage WebLogic domains across environments (on-prem, OCI, Kubernetes)
• A WAR file deployment option for use inside WebLogic clusters
• Clean, modern UI with configuration and monitoring views
• Monitoring and configuration of clusters, deployments, work managers, and more
• Direct integration with SOA and OSB servers running in Docker or Kubernetes

You’ll find familiar sections like Deployments, Work Managers, and Server Monitoring, but with an updated UI and better support for multi-cluster environments.

Note.  Pipeline editing for Service Bus is now only available in JDeveloper, to enforce safe Dev→Test→Prod promotion flows. This change prevents direct risks.

2. Secured Production Mode

You can now enable « Secured Production Mode » during domain creation. This mode:

• Restricts access strictly to secure protocols (HTTPS, T3S)
• Enforces tighter runtime configurations and security policies
• Requires valid digital certificates for all connections

Perfect for production deployments with strict compliance or regulatory requirements.

Upgrade Path: Moving to SOA Suite 14.1.2

To upgrade from SOA 12.2.1.4 to 14.1.2, the general process involves:

• Installing new binaries in a fresh Oracle Home
• Upgrading schemas in place using RCU
• Migrating existing domain configurations to point to the new binaries
• Reconfiguring domain components via the upgrade wizard
• Deploy and test composites using JDeveloper and the updated runtime

Oracle ensures that this transition path preserves existing metadata and keeps service downtime minimal.

Oracle recommends starting your SOA 14.1.2 upgrade by evaluating it in lower environments using containers or side-by-side installs.

Quick Start with Containers

Oracle provides a compact domain for quick prototyping. you can setup :

• A  deployed Docker-based SOA and OSB cluster  using 14.1.2 images.
• The configuration includes:
  • SOA Server
  • Service Bus (OSB) Server
  • Admin Server
  • A Dockerized Oracle Database 19c for metadata repositories

The container setup enables:

• Easy patching by pulling the latest image
• Fast restart and upgrade with each quarterly patch
• Lower overhead for dev/test environments

EM Console & API-Based Configuration

The traditional Enterprise Manager (EM) Console remains accessible for SOA infrastructure monitoring. You can still:

• View deployed composites
• Monitor runtime activity
• Configure endpoints and properties

On top of that, the integration between JDeveloper and Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC) is enhanced:

• Easily define and test connections to OIC .
• Use OpenAPI documents to generate REST bindings
• Manage hybrid workflows between SOA Suite and OIC

What’s Coming Next?

• SOA 14.1.2 on Oracle Marketplace , available in Q1 2025
• Full support for containerized deployments on OCI and Kubernetes
• Expanded interoperability features between SOA and OIC

Whether you’re staying on-prem, adopting hybrid models, or moving fully to the cloud, this release is a strong step forward.

Final Recommendations

• Try the SOA containers in dev/test to streamline your workflows
• Use the Remote Console for efficient domain management
• Explore hybrid integration with OIC to modernize your architecture
• Upgrade to SOA 14.1.2 to benefit from long-term support and cutting-edge features

As conclusion

SOA Suite 14.1.2 isn’t just a version bump, it’s a well-rounded update that responds to enterprise needs:
– Kafka-native messaging,
– Seamless hybrid integration with OIC,
– Developer-centric container deployments,
– A modernized WebLogic console, and
– Enhanced security with production hardening options.

Combined with Oracle’s quarterly patching strategy, it’s make the platform more agile and adaptable.

Thanks for reading !